Red Flags: Home Improvement Contractors to Avoid

Choosing a contractor to work on your home is a big decision—one that can be scary to many people. It may seem like you are taking a huge leap of faith, but in reality there are a few clues that can help you weed out the home improvement contractors you would probably be smart to avoid.

Here are a few signs of potential problems:

Reluctance to provide references. High-quality contractors are proud of their work, and are eager to show you examples of their previous projects. If a contractor can’t—or won’t—let you see some of their completed projects, there’s probably a reason.

Bad reputation (or none at all). While it’s great if a contractor provides references, they obviously aren’t going to mention anyone who wasn’t satisfied with their work. So to get a true picture, you should ask around and see what people you trust say about the contractor. And if you can’t find anyone who is familiar with the business, that could be a sign of a fly-by-night operation.

High-pressure approach. A good contractor should allow you the time to ensure you know what you want. They also should offer an initial consultation meeting for no charge and with no strings attached. If a contractor’s main priority seems to be getting you to hand over a check—as quickly as possible—that’s a sign that they may only care about getting your money.

At RW Remodeling, making our customers happy is our top priority. We don’t believe in high-pressure tactics—and we encourage you to ask around about our work.

Scott Wallace has a passion for design and architecture. He founded Habitat Renovations as an offshoot of his two furniture store businesses, Thingz Contemporary Living and Boulevard Urban Living, with the goal of providing a broader range of design and construction services to his clientele. Scott and his wife Susie have been serving homeowners in the Scottsdale and Phoenix area for 15 years. Habitat Renovations merged with Republic West Remodeling in January of 2019.